The International Gemological Institute, the world’s largest independent

laboratory for testing and valuating gemstones and fine jewelry, was

established in 1975 and is located in New York City, Antwerp, Toronto, Los

Angeles, Bangkok, Mumbai (Bombay), Dubai and Tokyo. IGI can be reached at www.igiworldwide.com.

The International Federation of Diamond Bourses in their 1978 report

accepts IGI as an equal to the longer existing HRD or GIA.

Being a newcomer in those days (1975), IGI was being looked at with suspicion, and that is why - even nowadays - some people still refer to IGI as a lab too young to be good. Ironically, IGI today faces more discussions with

dissatisfied diamond dealers than HRD or GIA does, for it is their

feeling that IGI's grading system has become too severe, both for color

as for clarity.

According to some diamond websites, the impression is given that GIA is

the 'only' consistent grader: however, GIA's main share holder is Mr

Robert Mouawad who is involved in many diamond companies. This has given

some people in the diamond community more than once the feeling that a

conflict of interest could arise from this potential mix of diamond selling

with diamond grading. The recent GIA scandal in 2005 of diamond

misgradings for some very large diamonds will do nothing to quell such

concerns.

Neither HRD, nor IGI houses share-holders that operate in commercial

diamond activities. This emphasizes their status of independence.

As for consistency of IGI grading:

August 26, 2003 IGI Becomes First International Gemological Lab to Become

ISO 9001:2000 Certified

./..

Is the IGI certificate as reliable as HRD or GIA certificate? Read more about here:

./..IGI Awarded Certification in Both the United States + Canada

NEW YORK – The International Gemological Institute (IGI) today announced

its Los Angeles and Toronto labs were granted International Organization

for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2000 certification for operating a quality

management system in the scope of independent third party analysis of

diamonds, colored gemstones and jewelry articles.

ISO is a network of national standards institutes from more than 140

countries working in partnership with international organizations,

governments, industry, business and consumer representatives to more

directly link business objectives with business effectiveness.

ISO 9000 is a generic name given to a family of standards developed to

provide a framework around which a quality management system can

effectively be based. The ISO 9000 family of standards was revised in

December 2000.

According to IGI North America President, Jerry Ehrenwald, G.G., A.S.A.,

"This is a milestone for IGI. The ISO 9001 certification emphasizes the

Institute’s continued commitment to provide clients with the highest

quality of services available. It demonstrates that IGI is dedicated to